The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-14
HoNoRlNo L,NcoLN's MEMORY
The New York Republican Club cele-
brates the Martyrs Birthday.
Letters Read from MIR. Blaine and
ex-senator Hanniin.

room has seldom witnessed such gathering
of Republicans as met within its walls to.
night to celebrate Lincoln's birthday. 1t was
the first annual dinner of the young Repub.
lican Club, established a number of years
ago. Under this change the club has grown
rapidly. Invitations to the dinner were sent
to all the Republican Governors in the
United States and other prominent party
leaders, many of whom responded in person
tonight. Altogether 275 guests took places in
the reception room at $50 o'clock. Among
the guests were Senators Hawley, Harrison
and Aldrich, Governors Oglesby of Illinois,
Foraker of Ohio and Lounsbury of Connect
icut, Senator-elect Hiscock, Chauncey M.
Depew, Speaker Hustled, ex-Chief Justice
Noah Davis, Ex-Governor Foster of Ohio,
Henry Cabot Lodge of Boston, eX-Speaker
Grow and others. Much good humor and
pleasant conversation prevailed during the
reception.
Ate p. M. President Foster and Senator
Hawley led the way to the dining room. to
the music of Cappa's Band. A large por-
trait Of Lincoln, with flags and flowers.
comprised the decorations of the room Five
tables were arranged lengthwise of the room
and one at the south end for the President
and guests. About thirty more were seated
at table in an adjoining room. Each table
was marked with large floral piece repre-
senting letter in Lincoln's name Two on
the guests table represented az and a.
each one of the other five letters, "N"-"C''
"O"" I'm marking one of the main
tables. President James p. Foster presided
over the guests table, supported on the
right by Senator Hawley Governor Foraker.
Senator Harrison, Senator-eleet Hiseock,
State Senator Hendricks, Levi p. Morton,
Judge Coke of Utica and ex-Speaker Ga
lusha A. Grow AT Fosters left sat Chaun-
eey NJ Depew, Governor Oglesby, Governor
Davis, Speaker Hustled, Ex-Governor Cor
nell, Congressman-elect Henry Cabot Lodge,
ex-senator Thomas c.. Platt and ex-Goy-
ernor Foster. President Foster raped for
order soon after O'Clock and made a brief
address of welcome in behalf of the Repub-
lican Club and paid tribute to the memory
OF Lincoln. The following letter was read:
AUGUSTA, Me, Feb IL, 1887.
10 A. u. HUMPHREY, ESQ, Corresponding
Secy Republican Club of N. Y
Dear sir-ltfs with sincere regret that |
find myself unable to be present at your ban
quet tomorrow evening. | have postponed
replying in the hope that at tue, last moment
L might lind mySel able to join you, but
must foreg0 the pleasure, as imperative en-
gagements detain meIhere. It's an auspicious
anniversary which you have selected for the
formal inauguration of your club. 1t has al
ways DCCll lOullu 10 S6cuIC Iu6 annual
celebration of birthday, however eminent
the career or how illustrious the character of
the man in whose Ehon0r it is designed. |
think the fame of Mr.. Lincoln will bring to
his name exceptional honor, and that like
Washington the grandeur of his achieve
ments will increase and not diminish as years
go by. The fame of each rests not even so
much ON what he did for his own generation
as for all the future of our common country
Great as has been the work of others
rno hox flasao
est glory, the fame imperishable, belongs to
the names OF Washington and Lincoln. Your
club meets to do honor to Mr.. Lincoln as Re-
publican. 1t was the Republican party that
gave Mr.. Lincoln to the nation and sustained
him step by lstep throughout his extraordi-
nary career. The celebration of Mr.. Lin
coins name is celebration of the Republican
party. To that party he was sincerly at
tached; to its principles entirely devoted: in
It's success he found the victorious issue of
every great policy of which he was himself
the personal exponent. The Republican
party makes no attempt to narrow the pos
session Of fame that is recognized on all con-
tlnents that will last through all centuries,
that belongs to humanity. But the political
organization which supports Mr.. Lincoln has
the right tosclaim prestige of his name, as it
continues to labor In the great field where he
wrought, until all harvestsi of his planting
shall be gathered and garnered.
Very sincerely yours,
JAEEs G. BLAINE"
Letters were also read from Hon. John
Sherman, Hon. John ID. Long and others.
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin wrote as follows:
BANGOR, Me-, Feb. H. I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the
md lnst,, inclosing an invitation to attend
the first annual dinner to be given Feb. 18th
the anniversary of Lincoln's birthday-at
Delmonico's. | regret exceedingly my ina
blllty to be present on that occasion. L
would be glad to testify by my presence my
high appreciation of Lincoln, and pay hon.
age to his memory and worth, but my en-
gagements are such that ! cannot do so.
Your club has well wisely acted in making
this commencement Of the annual obser-
vance OF Lincoln's birthday 1t should be
made national, like the birthday of Wash
ingt0n. Let each be appropriately OBJ
served as one of the best things to inculate
patriotism upon those who in ages shall come
after us. 1t is patriotic, and deserves to
promote love of country and keep alive and
fresh the memory of patriotic men,"
Toasts were responded to as follows; 'Re-
publican Club Of the city of New York"
James Foster; Abraham Lincoln" Hon.
Joseph +. Hawley; "The Empire State
Frank Hiscock; "Tl,e Republican Party
Gov. Foraker; Reform of the Party within
the Party, Senator Harrison; "Young Men
in Politics" Chauncey M. Depew; "The
War Governor" Coy. Ogfesby; 'Republi-
can Clubs !, as a Agencies Of Party organiz-
tion," Galusha A. Grow; "CiYil Service Re
FORM" Henry Cabot Lodge.
Whens the toast American Shipping" was
announced, President Foster said the selec-
tion was an unfortunate one, as there was
no American shipping, and it was aban-
doned.